Michael Novak became only the second Artistic Director in the history of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation in September 2018, upon the death of Founding Artistic Director Paul Taylor the previous month. Mr. Novak has been a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company since 2010… READ MORE

Paul Taylor Founder

Paul Taylor, one of the most accomplished artists this nation has ever produced, helped shape and define America’s homegrown art of modern dance from the earliest days of his career as a choreographer in 1954 until his death in 2018… READ MORE

WHAT IS PTAMD?

Mr. Taylor is a quintessential modernist, rebelling against convention and always looking toward the future. As he continued to embrace new challenges, in 2012 Mr. Taylor he moved the Paul Taylor Dance Company’s annual New York City performances to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, one of the world’s greatest cultural centers. The first modern dance company to call Lincoln Center home, it attracted larger audiences and higher ticket revenue there than ever before.

Building on that success, in 2015 Mr. Taylor announced a new program: Paul Taylor American Modern Dance. Through this initiative Mr. Taylor began to present historic masterworks of American modern dance choreographed by many of his great contemporaries. He also engaged dancers ideally suited to perform those works. In the last four seasons Mr. Taylor has presented the Limón Dance Company in Doris Humphrey’s Passacaglia from 1938, Shen Wei Dance Arts in Shen Wei’s Rite of Spring from 2004, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Donald McKayle’s Rainbow ’Round My Shoulder from 1959, Lyon Opera Ballet in Merce Cunningham’s Summerspace from 1958, the Trisha Brown Dance Company in Trisha Brown’s Set and Reset from 1983; and the Taylor Company in Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels from 1948.

In addition to reviving modern dance masterworks of the past, Mr. Taylor is commissioning contemporary choreographers through Taylor Company Commissions. To date commissions have been given to choreographers Larry Keigwin, who created Rush Hour; Doug Elkins, who created The Weight of Smoke; Taylor alumna Lila York, who created Continuum; Bryan Arias, who created The Beauty in Gray; and Doug Varone, who created Half Life. All of these works were created on the Paul Taylor Dance Company and presented during the Paul Taylor American Modern Dance seasons at Lincoln Center.

An integral element of Mr. Taylor’s vision for Paul Taylor American Modern Dance is the marriage of live music and dance. Beginning in 2015 Orchestra of St Luke’s has partnered with the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation to provide live musical accompaniment to deepen the performance experience, whenever so intended by the choreographer.

Paul Taylor American Modern Dance has become a standard of excellence in the presentation of modern dance in New York City, and Mr. Taylor has made great strides in creating a home to celebrate the magnificent history of modern dance as well as ensuring its successful future.

National Touring supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts

The Taylor School

Paul Taylor created The Taylor School more than 30 years ago to enable dancers of all ages and levels to learn his unique style. The Taylor School teaches children and adults the astonishing artistry and athleticism for which the Paul Taylor Dance Company is known throughout the world.

During the school year, The Taylor School offers a full spectrum of classes for every kind of mover from toddlers to professional-level dancers. During the summer, The Taylor Schools hosts its well respected Taylor Intensives and Taylor Summer Dance Camps. Taylor School faculty is mostly comprised of current and former Paul Taylor dance Company and Taylor 2 members, the majority of whom trained at The Taylor School before auditioning for those companies.
No matter your age or dance level, there’s a class at The Taylor School for you.

Intensives afford students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Taylor style and Mr. Taylor’s repertoire. Technique and Repertory classes are taught by current Paul Taylor Dance Company dancers, alumni and current Taylor 2 Dance Company dancers.

The Taylor School offers dance education of the highest quality to K-12 students in the New York City area and beyond.

Through the practice of dancing and dancemaking, students will deepen their understanding and appreciation of dance as an art form, and of Paul Taylor as one of the most influential modern dance choreographers of all time.

Our comprehensive programming includes everything from a single master class to shorter workshops, assemblies, longer in-school residencies, and after-school programs.

DONATE

As a Friend of Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, you will be supporting, preserving, and expanding one of America’s great original art forms. Your contribution will support the creation of new works and the preservation of classic dances; enable us to share them with audiences around the world; and provide opportunities for students and young dancers through our educational outreach programs.

Contact Information

*The Taylor Studio is located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Our facility is fully handicap accessible. The wheelchair-accessible entrance is located on Madison Street between Jackson Street and Grand Street.

PRESS & PRESENTERS

Upcoming Events

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The Taylor Company will perform at the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday at 8pm!!! Read all about it in the Pittsburgh City Paper!!! The article features an interview with Artistic Director Michael Novak!!! Join us as "The Celebration Tour" continues as we honor Paul Taylor's legacy!!!

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